Distinguished ProfessorHuu Hao Ngo

Distinguished Professor Huu Hao Ngo (Hao) is an award-winning and world-leading environmental engineering researcher with a particular interest in wastewater treatment and reuse and environmental biotechnology for sustainable development. Hao has made it his mission to have his work published in high-impact journals, to work with quality collaborators, and to be an active and leading member of the global network of scholars in his field by editing top journals and reviewing the papers of others.

As a Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Deputy Director of the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater at UTS, Hao helps develop innovative technologies that deliver abundant supplies of recycled water and green and sustainable technologies for clean energy and materials towards practical zero emission. He is also co-director of the Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, which was formed by China's Tianjin Chengjian University and UTS. He also served as President of the International Bioprocessing Association (2021-2024), a Fellow of the International Water Association, and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Bioprocessing Association. He is currently the founder and Executive Coordinator of the newly established Australasia Practical Zero Emissions Society (APZES) 

Hao's expertise and practical experience include advanced biological wastewater/waste treatment technologies (e.g. membrane bioreactor, specific attached and suspended growth bioreactors, anaerobic digesters, wetland and bio-sorption). His expertise spans circular economy-based green bioprocessing technologies, resource recovery, renewable resources, water management, environmental impact assessment, biogas/biohydrogen production, greenhouse gas emission control/climate change mitigation and solid waste management. An outstanding example of Hao's cutting-edge research is his patented GemFloc bioflocculant. This green material can minimize membrane fouling and maximize the performance of membrane bioreactors for water reuse applications. 

Hao's research portfolio is both prolific and influential. Hao has published over 750 publications, including 16 books and 54 book chapters, with over 62,000 citations and an h-index of 121 (Google, March 2025). His work has been cited in 39 patents and featured in high-impact journals and review articles. He is a sought-after global speaker, delivering over 70 keynote and plenary lectures at major international conferences and academic institutions worldwide. 

Hao is consistently recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics (Web of Science) in multiple fields: Environment and Ecology and Biology and Biochemistry (2022, 2021), Biology and Chemistry (2020), and the Cross-Field category in 2019. According to SciVal Elsevier's 10-year World ranking (2014-2023), Hao was ranked #1 in Waste Management and Disposal, #2 in Environmental Engineering and #7 in Bioengineering. Based on the prior five years' World Ranking by Scholar GPS^TM in 2024, Hao has been recognized as a Highly Ranked Researcher, ranked #2. #6 and #7 in wastewater, wastewater treatment and bioreactors, respectively. The Scholar GPS^TM (2024) also places him among Australia's top 1 Scholar in four areas (membrane bioreactors, bioreactor systems, environmental systems, and wastewater treatment) and top 1 Scholar at UTS in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His scholarly excellence has also been recognized nationally by THE AUSTRALIAN Scholar Rankings, where he was named a leader. Hao has been recognized as a leader in environmental science and biotechnology (2023 and 2021), environmental science (2020), and biotechnology (2019). 

Hao has supervised numerous PhD students to completion and mentored them to become Professors, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, Heads of Schools, Research Fellows, and Research Scientists in Australia and worldwide. He has supervised several UTS Chancellor Postdoctoral Fellows and visiting fellows/scholars. He has been invited to give numerous plenary/keynotes and invited speeches, seminars and lectures at international conferences and universities/research institutions. He has also been an Honorary International Guest/ Chair professor and visiting Research Fellow in France, China, India, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam while being Conference Chair, Section Chair, and Advisory/Organizing/Scientific committee member in several conferences.

Hao was a former Editor/Executive Editor of Bioresource Technology, Elsevier and Associate Editor of Heliyon Journal, Elsevier. He is currently serves as Editor of Chemical Engineering Journal, Associate Editor of (i) Science of the Total Environment, Elsevier, (ii) Journal of Water Process Engineering, Elsevier, (iii) Heliyon Journal, Elsevier; (iv) Journal of Environmental Functional Materials, KeAi; and Editor; Journal of Algae and Environment, and Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, VNU. He is also an editorial board member of numerous international journals such as Bioresource Technology Reports, Elsevier; Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring and Management, Elsevier; Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, EHIT, Journal of Bioengineered, Taylor & Francis; and Advisory Board Member, Water Cycle, KeAi.